North Carolina State University Athletics
TIM PEELER: A Weekend Full of Diversions
4/6/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
April 6, 2006
BY TIM PEELER
RALEIGH - Tired of wondering about who will be NC State's next men's basketball coach?
Then here's the scoop: There are plenty of other things that can occupy the minds of Wolfpack fans throughout this weekend, from the spring football game on Saturday to an important three-game ACC baseball series against Wake Forest.
But there is also an opportunity to catch a handful of former NC State stars in action, beginning today with the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club, where both Tim Clark and Carl Pettersson will tee off today in their pursuit of the green jacket.
In the Triangle, former football standouts Torry and Terrance Holt will host the Holt Brothers Celebrity Event to benefit the Holt Foundation, beginning on Thursday night with and continuing this weekend with their celebrity golf tournament at Brier Creek Country Club.
And in Shanghai, China, recently crowned NCAA-champion swimmer Cullen Jones will try to continue his incredible run of accomplishments by winning the 50-meter freestyle. He's the top seed going into Thursday's finals in the event, but he is swimming in a 25-meter, short-course pool as opposed to the 50-meter pool he would swim at the Olympics in 2008.
So here is a quick breakdown of what should be a busy, busy weekend for NC State fans. And if you think there's a lot going on, just imagine what athletics director Lee Fowler is going through.
 Former Wolfpack golfer Carl Pettersson is making his Masters debut this weekend.  |
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When: Thursday, April 6-Sunday, April 9, 2006
Where: Augusta National Golf Club, Augusta, Ga. TV coverage: USA Network (Thursday, Friday), CBS (Saturday, Sunday). Full television schedule available here
More information:here
Live scoring: here.
For Clark, the Masters has become an annual appointment on his spring calendar. This is his fifth appearance at professional golf's first major, beginning back in 1998 when he was still a member of the Wolfpack golf team. He qualified as an amateur by winning the 1997 Public Links Championship.
Clark, making his fourth consecutive appearance at Augusta, finished 13th in the event in 2003 and he will try to continue the hot streak he had in majors last year, when he finished third at the US Open in Pinehurst, 39th at the Masters, 22nd at the British Open and 17th in the PGA Championship.
"This is probably the most special week of the year in golf," Clark says. "Augusta is always a memorable week, regardless of performance."
Clark has played well this year, making the cut in seven of the eight events he has played and winning more than $400,000. But he's hoping to improve on his putting this week, a must for anyone to be in contention at Augusta National.
"I think it is coming around," Clark said.
He has only a few tips for Pettersson, his one-time roommate and long-time friend, as he makes his Augusta debut. Pettersson, who won last year's Chrysler Championship in Tampa, has posted three top 10 finishes this year and won more than $800,000.
"I've told him just to have fun and enjoy the week, and do not focus on the score," Clark said. "Carl will do well. He is a tough competitor and will enjoy the challenge."
Clark tees off Thursday at 9:28 a.m. and will play with Ian Woosnam and Tom Lehman. Pettersson tees off at 12:24 p.m. and will play with John Daly and Jason Bohn.
 Swimmer Cullen Jones shows off his gold medal from the World University Games. |
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When: Wednesday, April 5-Sunday, April 9, 2006
Where: Shaghai, China
More information, results: here and here
The last 12 months have been amazing for Jones, who won three more ACC Championships, set the ACC record in the 50-yard freestyle and won the school's first NCAA title in swimming since 1993. Last summer, he set the World University Games record in the 50-meter freestyle.
Now, as one of 26 members of the US team for the World Short-Course Championships, he has already won a bronze medal as part of the 4x100-meter freestyle relay team.
He swims Thursday at 7:30 a.m. (EST) in the 50-freestyle finals.
"This is a dream for me," Jones said. "A lot of the swimmers I have read about tin the past few years doing great things and that went to the 2004 Olympics are on our team, and for my name to even be on the list is a great achievement for me.
"This is my first meet where there is a preliminary heat, the semifinals and a finals heat. So it will be a challenge to have to swim the 50-meter three times instead of just twice. It leaves a little more room for error, but not much. I am definitely looking to win and if you look at the converted times (the equivalent time with yards converted to meters), it looks like I may have a shot at the American record."
At the ACC Championships in College Park, Md., in February, Jones posted a time of 19.07 seconds in the 50-yard freestyle, just two-hundredths of a second off the American record in that event.
NC State swimming coach Brooks Teal believes this five-day experience in China is a good stepping stone in Jones' quest to be on the 2008 Olympic team that will represent the U.S. in Beijing. Jones is looking forward to that, as well.
"There was a point in time where I didn't think that I would qualify or I would be good enough to (make the Olympic team)," Jones said. "The past year has just been a Cinderella tale. My times have just been dropping constantly, and each time that I swim I just feel more confident about going to the 2008 Olympics and representing the U.S."
 Terrance Holt will join his older brother Torry for their two-day charity fundraiser |
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When: Thursday, April 6-Saturday, April 8, 2006
Where: Brier Creek Country Club, Raleigh
More information: For the full schedule of events, look here
The former Wolfpack tandem are now both successful players in the NFL, Torry with the St. Louis Rams and Terrance with the Detroit Lions. This annual event, now in its fifth year, continues to grow larger, as the two players raise money for the foundation they set up in honor of their late mother, Ojetta Holt-Shoffner, who died of cancer in 1996.
Thursday's event include the Celebowl, a bowling tournament at the AMF Pleasant Valley Lanes in Raleigh, followed by the White Party dinner at downtown Raleigh restaurant 518 West.
Among the handful of NFL players who will participate in Friday's Holt Brothers Celebrity Golf Classic are former NC State players Jerricho Cotchery of the New York Jets and Alvis Whitted of the Oakland Raiders. Others slated to attend are Marshall Faulk of the St. Louis Rams, Donovan McNabb of the Philadelphia Eagles and Roy Williams and Dre Bly of the Detroit Lions.
Admission for the golf event is $5, available at the gate only on Friday.
 Outfielder Ryan Pond is one of several big bats in the Wolfpack's lineup. |
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When: Friday, 7 p.m.; Saturday, 1 p.m.; Sunday, 1 p.m.
Where: Doak Field at Dail Park
Radio coverage: All three games will be broadcast live on WKNC FM-88.1.
More information: For results and Gametracker coverage, visit here
For the second consecutive week, the Wolfpack did not play a mid-week game heading into an important ACC series, and Elliott Avent hopes the four-day break between games will be as helpful as it was last time.
The Wolfpack (25-8 overall, 8-4 ACC) swept Virginia last weekend and have the opportunity to take the lead in the ACC Atlantic Division with a good showing against the Demon Deacons, who have an identical 8-4 mark in the same division. Both are one game behind division leader Florida State.
 Junior Marcus Stone returns as the Wolfpack's starting quarterback. |
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When: Saturday, 4 p.m.
Where: Carter-Finley Stadium, Raleigh.
More information: For more coverage, visit here.
Not only will Wolfpack fans get their first real glimpse of the progress made on the North End Zone project, which will add more than 7,000 permanent seats to 40-year-old Carter-Finley Stadium, they will also get a glimpse of the future of Chuck Amato's seventh edition of the Wolfpack.
Amato's team will try to build on the momentum of last year's finish, which included a 14-0 shutout of South Florida in the Meineke Car Care Bowl in Charlotte. The Wolfpack won five of its last six games to finish with a 7-5 record.
The game kicks off at 4 p.m., so fans can attend Saturday's baseball game against the Deacons and still see the football game.
You may contact Tim Peeler at tim_peeler@ncsu.edu.
